Frank M. Wooden Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1023-1024 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and 
	was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				FRANK M. WOODEN. 

	Frank M. Wooden is the senior partner in the firm of Wooden & 
Weston, dealers in implements, automobiles, and vehicles at Letcher, 
and belongs to that class of wide-awake, alert, energetic merchants of 
the west who are contributing so largely to the rapid and substantial 
development of this section of the country. He has always made his home 
in the Mississippi valley, his birth having occurred at Fort Atkinson, 
Wisconsin, January 31, 1875, his parents being James and Adeline 
(Tooker) Wooden. The father was a native of New York and on leaving the 
Empire state removed westward, casting in his lot with the early 
residents of Wisconsin, where he followed the business of a carpenter 
and builder. 

	To Mr. and Mrs. James Wooden were born five children, of whom 
Frank M. is the youngest. At the usual age he began his education in 
the public schools of Fort Atkinson and when his textbooks were put 
aside and he began to learn the more practical but difficult lessons 
that one must master in the school of experience, he turned his 
attention to farming. It was in 1886 that he became a resident of 
Dakota territory, settling in Sanborn county, near Letcher, where he 
afterward proved up a claim. The land was entirely wild and undeveloped 
hut he at once began to cultivate it and in the course of time 
transformed it into rich and productive fields. Year after year he 
carefully tilled the soil and remained upon that place until 1909, when 
he engaged in the implement business in connection with the J. I. Case 
Company, selling thresher outfits. He remained upon the road for about 
a year and in 1910 purchased the implement business which he is now 
conducting. He represents the John Deere Plow Company, the Willys 
Overland Company and the J. I. Case Company and has the largest 
business of the kind in Sanborn county. His sales cover a wide 
territory and his business methods commend him to the continued 
patronage and support of the general public. He is always courteous and 
obliging and thoroughly reliable in his methods and his success has 
come through the earnest efforts which he has made to please his 
customers. 

	On the 1st of November, 1899, Mr. Wooden was united in marriage 
to Miss Nellie May Weston, a daughter of George B. and Sarah D. 
(Corliss) Weston, of Sanborn county. They have become parents of four 
children: James Edward, Mildred, Francis Ray and John Bradford. 

	Mr. Wooden exercises his right of franchise in support of the men 
and measures of the democratic party, but he does not seek office, 
preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He 
belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Elks Lodge, 
No. 1059, at Mitchell. He enjoys motoring and hunting and thus finds 
his recreation. He is in hearty sympathy with the good roads movement 
and various other progressive projects which tend to bring about a 
higher and more advanced civilization. He is one of the section's 
energetic and progressive business men, alert to his opportunities, 
active in their improvement and honorable in all business relations.